How Fetal Alcohol Syndrome effect your Baby?

Women who consume more amount of alcohol during pregnancy give birth to babies with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Fetal alcohol syndrome is a type of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. FASD generally range from mild to chronic and can cause physical and mental birth defects.

Types of Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

The common types of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder:

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Partial fetal alcohol syndrome

Alcohol related birth defects

Alcohol related neurodevelopment disorder

Neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

Fetal Alcohol syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a severe disease condition. The effects of fetal alcohol syndrome vary from person to person depending on the health condition. Patients with fetal alcohol syndrome generally experience problem with vision, hearing, memory and attention span. The babies also face difficulty in learning how to communicate.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Causes

Fetal alcohol syndrome is mainly caused due to heavy drinking. This condition arises when some amount of alcohol passes across the placenta and reaches the fetus. The developing fetus will not be able to process alcohol the same way as an adult does.

The alcohol that reaches the fetus is in more concentrated state and can prevent the supply of oxygen and nutrients that are required by the fetus. Damage is generally reported in the first few weeks of excessive drinking. The risk increases if the mother is a heavy drinker.

Gynecologists usually ask you to avoid alcohol in the first three months as it can harm the fetus. However, drinking alcohol at any stage of pregnancy can harm the baby and it is better to avoid consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Symptoms

There are many symptoms that are associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. The symptoms range from mild to chronic. The most common symptoms include:

Head appears smaller in size after the birth

A smooth ridge between the upper lip and nose

A thin upper lip

Low birth weight

Hyperactivity

Lack of focus

Poor coordination

Delayed development and poor social skills

Problem in seeing and hearing

Learning disability

Cardiac problem

Kidney problems

Deformed limbs or fingers

Mood swings

Intellectual disability

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnosis

The early the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome, the earlier it can be treated. You need to tell your doctor if you drank alcohol while you were pregnant. The common diagnostic procedures include:

Physical examination

Physical examination helps the doctor in identifying the cardiac problems. There are certain other sign and symptoms that help in making the diagnosis easier. The common signs that help in diagnosis include:

Slow growth rate

Abnormal facial features

Vision problems

Hearing problems

Slow language acquisition

Smaller head size

Poor coordination

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a preventable disease condition. You can prevent this disease by avoiding alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Light or social drinkers also face this problem in few rare cases. Thus, it is better to completely avoid alcohol during pregnancy for a healthy baby.